Adjustable hinge



April 17, 1945. c. E. F ULLER ADJUSTABLE HINGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 5, 1944 ,2 u w 7 r E m Wv C 3 Sheet t-2- FUITLER ADJUSTABLE HINGEFiled J 5, 1944 H/ZPLES I a}; L62

MA MW April 17, 1945. c. E. FULLER I ADJUSTAELE HiNGE Filed Jan. 5, 19443 Sheets-Sheet 3 In men to! CHQPLESE fuLL 2 B 2% a Attorneys 4//////K///IVI Patented Apr. 17, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 72,373,955 AnJusrABLE HINGE Charles E. Fuller, Dothan, Ala. ApplicationJanuary 5, 1944, Serial No. 517,090 .6 Claims. (01. 16-129)- differentreasons.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision ofan adjustable butt hinge by means of which the end of a door or otherclosure hung by the hinge may be adjusted in any one or more ofsixdifierent directions by merely usinga screw driver and/or pliers,

and without taking the door off of the hinge.

In other words, the hinge provides for adjusting the end of the doormountedthereby, either toward or awayfrom the jamb, inwardly oroutwardly with respect to the door opening, or upwardly or downwardlywith respect tothe latter. In this way, the effects of sagging, warping,swelling, shrinking, or inaccurately installed doors can be overcome soas to cause the door to operate properly.

Briefly stated, .the invention embodies a mounting element and a hingeelement having one leaf adjustably associated with the mounting element,each element including two leaves orparts, one of which is verticallyadjustable relative to the other for effecting upward or downwardadjustment of the door or other closure. Means is also provided foradjusting the hinge element relative to the mounting element so as toeffect adjustment of the door inwardly or outwardly with respect to thedoor opening. In addition, means is provided for adjusting the leaves orparts of the mounting element-relative to each other so as to effectadjustment of the door or closure to 'the right or left relative to thedoor jamb.

simple and durable in construction, inexpensive In the drawings, whereinlike reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a hinge constructed in accordancewith the present invention, the hinge being shown as it appears when thedoor or other closure is in fully opened position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly :broken away and'insection, showing a por tion of the pintle of the hinge element and theadjusting nut carried thereby.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the hinge element forming part of thehinge construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the mounting element forming part ofthe hinge construction to manufacture, and easy to install and operate.Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and the inventionconsists in the novel form,combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter more fully described, 1.

shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.-

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9 -9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 5, of the hinge element formingpart of the form of the invention shown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the lea-ved memberforming part of the mounting element of the hinge shown in'Figure 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly ,to Figures 1 to6, inclusive, the hinge shown includes a. hinge element 5 and a mountingelement 6, the hinge elementcomprising a pair of leaves a and b providedwith interfitting knuckles I and 1 which are spaced apart, as at 8, soas to permit vertical adjustment of the leat b relative to. the .leaf inExtending through the knuckles 1 and I is a suitable pintle 9'having ahead In on its upper end and a head II on its lower end, as well asprovided with a threaded lower portion l2. As shown, the upper head l0may be integral with the pintle,while the head i Y may be in the form ofa nut threaded and swaged on the pintle, as at l3, the lower head I Ibeing provided with a screw driver kerf, as at I4. A nut verticallyadjusted relative to the jamb by rotation of pintle 3. By rotating thepintle i one direction, the nut 15 can. be caused to travel upwardly forelevating the leaf b and the door carried thereby, whereas rotation ofthe pintle 9 in the opposite direction will cause lowering of nut [5 soas to allow the leaf 1; and door D to lower.

As shown clearly in Figures 1,-2 and.5, the leaf b has several openingsI6 for reception of screws i'l, whereby the leaf to may be secured tothe edge of the door. The other leaf 0 is provided at the top with anopening l8 and at its intermediate and lower portions with slots 13 and23, respectively. The purpose of the opening I8 and the slots l9 and 20will become apparent presently.

The mounting element 6 comprises a pair of leaves 0 and d provided withinterfitting knuckles 2| and 22 through which extends a pintle 23 for'hinging the'leaves c and d together along corresponding edges. As shownclearly in Figure fij the leaf 0 is provided at its upper portion withan elongated slot 24 and at its intermediate and lower lportions withopenings 25 and 26. Also, the leaf d is provided at its upper,intermediate and lower portions with slots 21, 28 and 29, respectively.Openings 30 are provided in the leaf d between the intermediate slot 28and the end or upper and lower slots 21 and 23. Installing the mountingelement, screws 3| are passed through the openings 30 of leaf d anddriven into the jamb J so as to firmly fasten the leaf (1 to the lambwithin a suitable recess provided in the latter. The leaf 0 is thenswung to folded position inspaced parallel relation to the leaf,d, asshownin Figure 2, it being understood that a nut 33 is first seatedsnugly within a recess of the lamb J behind the leaf d, whereby said nut33 is prevented from turning. This nut is located so that it isimmediately behind and bridges the slot 28 of the leaf d. Also, it iswell to know at this point that all of the slots so far described areprovided transversely of the leayes so as to open through the freevertical edges thereof, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. Swiveled inthe opening 25 of leaf c is a bolt 34 that extends through slot 28 andhas threaded engagement in nut33. The swivel connection of bolt 34 withleaf 0 includes a collar 35 fixed on. the bolt 34 behind the leaf 0and-rotatable in the slot is of the leaf 0, of hinge element 5, whichleaf a is received between theleaves c and d of the mount ing element.It will be apparent that by turning the bolt 34, it may be fedlongitudinally so as to swing the leaf 0 toward or away from the leaf dso that with the leaf 0, of the hinge element at tached to the leaf c,the door will be adjusted to the right or left or toward or away fromthe jarnb,

' considering the door as closed.

For attaching the leaf a of the hinge element to the leaf 0 of themounting element, bolts 36 and 36a are provided which extend through theslot 24 of leaf 0 and through the opening ll! of leaf a, and through theopening 26 of leaf 0 and the slot 20 of leaf (1, respectively. Nuts 31and 3111 are threaded on the inner ends of the bolts 36 and 36a and arereceived within the slots 21 and 23, respectively, of leaf d so that thewalls of said slots 21 and 29 restrain the nuts 31 and 31a againstrotation. Thus, by turning the bolts 38 and 36a in one direction, thenuts 31 and 31a may be tightened so as to firmly clamp the leaf a of thehinge element tightly against the leaf 0 of the mountin element. Byturning the screws 36 and 36a in the opposite direction, the nuts 31 and31a may be loosened, and due to the' slots 24 and 20, the leaf a of thehinge element may be adjusted horizontally in a direction inwardly oroutwardly of the door opening so as to correspondingly adjust the door.It will of course be understood that the various adjustments can be madeat both the top and bottom of the door, the latter being usually hung bysimilar hinges, one near the top of the door, and one near the bottomthereof. When the desired adjustment has been made, it may be secured byturning the bolts 36 and 36a so as to tighten the nuts 31 and 21a again.Of course, when the nuts 31 and 31a are loosened, the door may be takenoff. Also, slots I 9 and 2B permit the adjustment of the hinge elementrelative to the mounting element last described, as well as the removalof the door, 'by permitting the leaf (1 to move as far as desiredrelative to the adjusting bolt 34.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provideda comparatively simple and durable adjustable hinge construction bymeans of which adjustment of the door relative to the door jamb may beeffected in any one or more of six different directions, therebyeifectively taking care of the many different faulty conditions that mayoccur to cause improper operation of the door.

While the mounting element may be prefer-.

ably provided on the door jarnb, it can be used equally as well upon thedoor by providing a 40 modified form of hinge construction, as shown inFigures '7 to 11, inclusive. In this embodiment, the hinge element isindicated at 5' and the mounting element at 6', the leaf a beingreceived between the leaves 0' and d of the mounting element, and theleaf bf of the hingefielement being secured to the lamb J. In this case,the leaf d of the mounting element is secured to the edge of the door D,and the knuckles 1a and lb of the leaves a and b of the hinge element,respectively, snugly interfit and ,are connected by an ordinary pintle9a. The leaves 0 and d of the mounting'element, however, looselyinterflt so as to-leave spaces 8a therebetween, and a pintle 23a extendsthrough the knuckles 2m and 22a of the leaves 0 and d, and has athreaded lower portion 12a receiving a nut l5a on which the knuckle 22aof leafd' rests. Pintle 23a has an upper head 10a and a lower head I la,the latter being fixed on the pintle'and the former having a screwdriver kerf Ila. Thus, by turning the pintle 23a, the nut l5a may bevertically adjusted so as to vertically adjust the leaf d relative tothe leaf 0', such adjustment effecting vertical adjustment of the door Dwhich is attached to the leaf d by screws 3|a passing through openings30a in said leaf d. In this arrangement, the mounting element isrecessed in the edge of the door, and the leaf b of the hinge element isattached to the jamb J by screws Ila. As shown more clearly in Figures10 and 11, the leaf (1 of the hinge element has an upper opening Na andintermediate and lower slots I91; and 20a, while the leaf d of themounting element has an intermediate slot 28a. Also, leaf 0' of themounting element 6 has an upper slot 24a and intermediate and loweropenings 25a and 261.1. A bolt 34a is swiveled in the opening 25a ofleaf and passes through the slot l9a of leaf a of the hinge element aswellas through the slot 280. of leaf d of the mounting element 6'. Thisbolt 34a has threaded engagement in a nut 33a. snugly fitted in a recessof the. door D so that the said nut 33a is restrained from turning. Byadjusting or turning bolt 34a, the leaf 0', may be adjusted toward oraway from leaf (1', thereby adjusting the door toward or away from thejamb, considering the door closed.- Further, bolts 3% and 360 areprovided, the former having its head enga d behindthe leaf a of thehinge element and provided with a squared shank portion adjacent itsheadengaged in the opening l8a. This bolt projects forwardly through theslot 24a and has a nut 31b threaded on the outer end thereof. Similarly,the bolt 360 extends through the slot 20a of leaf ,a' of the hingeelement 5, as well as through opening 26a of leaf, 0 of the mountingelement, the head of bolt 360 being engaged behind the leaves of themounting element and secured to the other leaf of the latter forhorizontal adjustment relative thereto and parallel with the planethereof, and means to secure said other leaf of the hinge element inhorizontally adjusted positions relativeto said other leaf of themountleaf 1;, and the bolt 36d having a squared shank portion engagingslot 20a to restrain said bolt against rotation. Nut 31c is threaded onthe outer end of bolt 36c, and it will thus be seen that nuts 31b and310 may be loosened by means of a pair of pliers so as to free leaf 0'of the hinge element and permit adjustment thereof relative to themounting element so as to effect adjustment of the door D inwardly oroutwardly with respect to the door opening, as considered with the doorclosed. When the desired adjustment has been obtained, it may be securedby tightening the nuts 31b and 310. Thus, the hinge of Figures 7 to 11,inclusive, embody the same adjustments. and general construction as thatof Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, the primary difference being that thehinge element is attached to the jamb and the mounting element isattached to the door, vertical adjustment of the door being effected byrelative adjustment of. the leaves of the mounting element instead of byrelative adjustment of the leaves of the hinge element.

It will of course be understood that the invention is susceptible tomany modifications and various, changes in details of construction. Itis accordingly noted that various modifications and changes in detailsof construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed.

W'hatIclaimisz I v 1. An adjustable butt hinge for horizontally swingingclosures comprising a hinge element and a mounting element, each havinga pair of hingedly connected-leaves, means to secure one leaf of oneelement to the closure, means to secure one leaf of the other element tothe jamb of the opening for the closure, the other leaf of the hingeelement being received between the leaves of the mounting element andsecured to the other leaf of the latter for horizontal adjustmentrelative thereto and parallel with the plane thereof, and means 'tosecure said other leaf of the hinge element in horizontally adjustedposwinging'closures comprising a hinge element sitions relative to saidotherleaf of the mounting element.

2. An adjustable butt hinge for horizontally swinging closurescomprising a hinge element and a mounting element, each having a pair ofhingedly connected leaves, means to secure one mg element, saidlast-named means comprising cooperating openings and horizontallyelongated slots in said other leaves, bolts extending through said slotsand openings and having nuts threaded thereon, and means to hold thenuts from turning, the slots opening through the outer. edges of theleaves to permit complete separation of said leaves upon merelyloosening the nuts.

3. An adjustable butt hinge for horizontally swinging closurescomprising a hinge element and a mounting element, each having a pair ofhingedly connected leaves, means to secure one leaf of one element tothe closure, means to secure one leaf of the other element to the jambof the opening for the closure, the other leaf of the hinge elementbeing received between the leaves of the mounting element and secured tothe other leaf of the latter for horizontal adjustment relative thereto,and means to secure said other leaf of the hinge element in horizontallyadjusted positions relative to said other leaf of the mounting element,and means connecting the leaves of said mounting element to adjust onetoward or away from the other and thereby effect adjustment of an edgeof the closure toward or away from itsjamb.

4. An adjustable butt hinge for horizontally swinging closurescomprising a hinge element and a mounting element, each having a pair ofhingedly connected leaves, means to secure one leaf of one element tothe closure, means tosecure one leaf of the other element to the jambvof the opening for the closure, the other leaf of the tive to said otherleaf of the mounting element,

and means to vertically adjust one leaf of the mounting element relativeto the other leaf thereof and thereby adjust the closure up or down.

5. An adjustable butt hinge for horizontally and a mounting element,each having a pair of hingedly connected leaves, means. to secure oneleaf ofone element to the closure, means to secure one leaf of the otherelement to the jamb of the opening for. the closure, the other leaf ofthe hinge element being re-received between the leaves of the mountingelement and secured to the other leaf of the latter for horizontaladjustment relative thereto. and means to secure said other leaf of thehinge element in horizontally adjusted positions relative to said otherleaf of the mounting element, and means connecting theleaves of saidmounting element to adjust one toward or away from the other and therebyeffect adjustment of an edge of the closure toward or away from itsjamb, and means to vertically adjust one leaf of one of the elementsrelative to the other leaf thereof and thereby adjust the closure up ordown.

6. An adjustable butt hinge' for horizontally swinging closurescomprising a hinge element and a mounting element, each having a pair ofhingedly connected leaves, means to secure one leaf of one element tothe closure, means to secure one lea! of the other element to the Jambof the opening for the closure, the other leaf of the hinge elementbeing received between the leaves of the mounting element and secured tothe other leaf otthe latter for horizontal adjustment relative thereto,and means to secure said other leaf of the hinge element in horizontallyadjusted positions relative to said other leaf of the mounting element,and means connecting the leaves of said mounting element to adjust

